Continuous form feeding and aligning device



Jan. 27; 1942. I J NICHOLS 2,271,306

' CONTINUOUS FORM FEEDING AND ALIGNING DEVICE Filed April 29, 1941 4Sheets-Sheet l I NVENTOB Jan. 27, 1942. J. NICHOLS 2,271,306

CONTINUOUS FORM FEEDING AND ALIGNING DEVICE I Filed April 29, 1941 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 27,, 1942. 3 E. J. NICHOLS 2,271,306

CONTINUOUS FORM FEEDING AND ALIGNING pas/19E Filed April 29, 1941 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 27, 1942. E. J. NICHOLS 2,271,306

CONTINUOUS FORM FEEDING AND ALIGNING DEVICE I Filed April 29, 1941 4SheetS-Sheet 4 INVL 'NTOBi Patented Jan. 27, 1942 CONTINUOUS FORMFEEDING AND.

. V I ALIGNING DEVICE Ellsworth .r. Nichols, Elizabeth, N. J.Application April 29, 1941, Serial No. 390,903

7 Claims, (Cl. 197-133) My invention relates to feeding and aligningdevices for continuous forms as they pass through a writing machine and,more particularly, to such devices which'maybe embodied in the platen ofan ordinary typewriter or tabulator and including pins arranged to beprojected from the platen surface into successive engagement with themarginal portions of the form contiguous to each of a longitudinallyextending series of punched holes.

In devices of this type it is necessary, if the superposed parts of theform are to be maintained in proper alignment and registry as they arepassed through the writing machine, that the pins engagethe forward sideof the punched holes 50 that, as the platen is rotated, the parts of theform will be moved evenly and simultaneously without any jogging ortwisting which would tend to carry the various parts out ofpredetermined superposed position, particularly when acomparatively-large number of parts are included in a single form.

The objects of my invention are to provide a pin type aligning devicewhich may be embodied in the platen of a writing machine with efficacy;to provide such a device which will operate efficiently to movecontinuous 'forms through the machine and maintain the various partsthereof in proper alignment and registry; to provide a device which willbe cheap to manufacture and easy to operate; and to provide a device ofthis kind'which will have many points of superiority over thoseheretofore used.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein similar characters are used todesignate similar parts, several different embodiments of devicesincluding my invention have been shown. In these drawings: Fig. 1 is aplan. view of a typewriter with the pin type feeding device as acomponent part of the platen; Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 inFig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the platen and its included deviceand witha continuous form threaded therearound, all as shown in Fig. 1;Fig. 4 is a staggered section taken generally along the line 4-4 in Fig.3;

- projection'and withdrawal of the pins comprises Fig. 5 is a side viewof one of the parts, as will be fully explained below; Fig. 6 is a view,similar to Fig. 2, of a modified embodiment of the device; Fig. 7 is asection along the line 1 in Fig. 6; Figs. 8 and 9 show details of theconstruction of this embodiment; Figs. 10 and 11 show details of a thirdembodiment; and Fig. 12 shows a variation of the embodiment of Figs. 10and 11 wherein the feeding and aligning pins have been changed somewhatin shape.

by the knurled hand knobs 4.

Referring to the figures, and particularly to Figs. 1 which my new andimproved device is mounted has the usual carriage 2 for. the platen 3rotated different embodiments shown and described in this application,my invention has been included in the platen of a typewriter, it shouldbe understood that it may be adapted readily and easily for use with anykind of writing machine, such as tabulators, billers, or others having aplaten around which passes a continuous form or other paper to receivewritten indicia.

In this instance, however, the continuous multipart form 5 is threadedaround the platenv 3 in the-manner shown in Figs. 2- and 4v and has ateach marginal edge thereof a longitudinally extending series of punchedholes 6 which are "elongated and, preferably, are otherwise shaped asillustrated in-Figs. 1 and 3. At each end of the platen 3 is included analigning unit 1 having an orbitally disposed and moving series of pins 8adapted, when the platen is rotated, tov enter successively into theholes 6 of a series and engage the forward or leading side of each holeto move the form 5 with the platens surface.

-. As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the outer ends of the pins 8throughout most of their orbital movement lie .within the circumferenceof the platen 3 but for a portion of their orbit these pins areprojected outwardly from the platens circumference so as to enter theholes 6, .as described. The mechanism forcausing thisthe'followingparts: Each of the pins 8, preferably, as-shown, is shapedlike a bell-crank and has one end pivotally mounted on a stud 9 carriedby a plate l0 secured to an end of the platen ,move in and engage theside walls of a cam race or channel l3 formed in the plate I mounted, ason a hub l5 carried by the platen shaft l6, to remain stationaryrelative to the platen 3 as it rotates. That is, the plate l4 remainsstationary relative to the fixed writing point of the machine.Obviously, when the platen is rotated the pins 8 will move orbitally andwhen the knobs l2 movein-the portionof to 5, inclusive, the typewriter lupon While, in the the channel l3 having the smaller radius the freeends of the pins will remain in withdrawn position below or within thecircumference of the platen. However, when the knobs l2 move into thecomparatively short portion of the channel having the greater radius,the pins 8 will be rocked outwardly to cause the free ends thereof toproject beyond the circumference of the platen and to swing into theelongated holes 6 in'the continuous form 5 threaded around the platen.As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the free ends of the feeding and aligningpins do not move radially outwardly but, as just described, swing intoprojected position and the leading edges of the pins do not contact theforward side of the holes 6 until the leading edges have assumed aradial position in which they engage simultaneously the contiguous edgesof the registering holes in the various parts of the form. This mannerof engagement is very important and is a step forward since it obviatesthe tendency, created by the other pin feeds heretofore used, to drawone or more of the superposed parts of the continuous form ahead of theother parts and, thereby, to carry the parts out of registry as the formmoves around the curved platen.

Sometimes it may be desired to vary the relative point in the platenscircumference at which the pins 8 are projected therefrom and, ofcourse, such variations may be effected by rotating the plate l4 and itsincluded cam channel l3 in relation to the platen. The means formaintaining the plate M in such adjusted position may include the springimpelled detent I! carried by and extending through the flange 29 fixedto the plate M. The lower end of this detent is adapted to extend intoone of a series of holes 2| in the cylindrical portion of the part I8which has a bifurcated arm engaging the tie rod IQ of the typewriter andthrough such engagement is prevented from rotating about the platenshaft Hi.

It will be evident, that when the detent I! is lifted out of one of theholes 2| the plate I4 may be moved relative to the part l8 and to theplaten 3 so that the portion of the cam channel having the larger radiuswill be moved to cause the pins 8 to be projected outwardly at thedesired relative point on the platens circumference as it is rotated.When the adjustment has been effected the detent is released and thespring thereon will cause the lower end thereof to enter the adjacenthole 2! in the cylindrical portion 20 of the part I8 and furthermovement of the plate l4 about the platen shaft will be prevented, asthe device is operated.

Although the operation of this embodiment of my new and improved feedingand aligning device should be understood from the above description,particularly when taken with the accompanying drawings, for the sake ofclarity a brief statement of such method of use and opera tion will begiven here. After each unit I has been adjusted through the detents IT,as just described, to cause the pins 8 to be projected at the properpoints in the platens circumference. a multi-part continuous form 5 isthreaded through the typewriter or other writing machine in. which'mydevice has been embodied and around the platen 3. A usual guard 22 maybe provided to support the form as it approaches the platen, as shown inFigs. 2 and 4. At all times, of course, several of the pins 8 of eachunit 1in this embodiment three of the pins will be projected from thecircumference of the platen and, as the form 5 is threaded through themachine, the holes 8 at each marginal portion of, the form areregistered with the projecting pins so that the forward side of each ofthe registering holes in each form part is engaged by the leading edgeof a pin. When the form has been moved through the machine into properposition for writing, the desired indicia is typed thereon and then theknurled knobs 4 are manipulated to turn the platen to carry the forminto the next writing position. When the platen is rotated theco-operating knobs l2 and cam channel I 3 will cause thepins 8 to swingoutwardly to enter successive holes 6 in the marginal portions of theform and the form will be carried with the platen and the various partsthereof during such movement will be maintained in proper registry andalignment. As stated above, in this embodiment the pins 8 swingoutwardly as they are projected from the platens surface and, therefore,the holes 8 must be elongated to accommodate the free ends of the pinsduring such swinging movement. It is desired to change the point on thecircumference of the platen at which the pins 8 are projected, thedetent I1 is lifted away from the cylindrical portion 20 of each unit 1and the plate I4 is rotated relative to the fixed writing point of themachine to effect the wanted-adjustment. If the feeding and aligningdevice is included in a power driven platen of a writing machine of adifferent type the operation will be the same. It should be noted thatin the embodiment of my device shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, thefeed pins 8 are both projected into form engaging position and withdrawnby the action of the knobs l2 in the cam channel I3.

In the modified form of device shown in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive,however, the pins 8a are projected into form engaging position and arewithdrawn therefrom by a positive gear drive and the cam action onlyguides them after they have been projected or withdrawn. Each pin 811has a knob |2a co-operating with a cam race or channel l3a formed in theadjustable plate Ila. As clearly shown in Fig. 9, this cam channel iswidened at the connections between the portions of smaller and largerradius so that the knobs at these transition points in their paths oftravel are not moved outwardly or inwardly by the channel as the platenisrotated. In this embodiment the outward and inward movement of thepins 811 is effected in the following manner: Each pin 8a has extendingtherefrom a pivoted link 23 connected at its other end to a finger 24fixed to a face of a small gear 25 mounted on a stud 26 on the plate l0.Fixed to the adjustable plate I 4a at the outer periphery of the orbitof the pins 8a, is a rack 21 and at the inner periphery of the orbit isarack 28. These racks are arranged and positioned to engage and meshwith the gears 25 as the platen on which they are carried rotatesrelative to the plate Ma on which the racks are mounted. When theplatenis rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 9 therack 21 will mesh successively with the gears 25 and will turn or rockthem to cause the finger 24 to move the-link 23 to swing the pins 8ainto projected position, as shown in Fig. 8. Then, as rotation of theplaten continues, the gears 25 will be carried successively intoengagement with the rack 21 and the gears will be turned or rocked in areverse direction to cause the pins 8a to be withdrawn. Completerotation of the gears 25 in either direction is prevented by the knob|2a moving in the channel I3c. Except for this variation in themotivating mechanism for the feeding and aligning pins, the operation ofthe embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, is the same asthat of the previously described embodiment.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 10 and 11 each of the pins 8b has theform engaging shank thereof arranged at substantially a right angle tothe shank pivoted to the plate l; each has the leading and rearwardedges of the form engaging shank tapered to a blunt point; andeach knobI21) and the co-operating cam channel l3b formed in the plate Mb arearranged and positioned so that when a pin is swung into projectedposition the end thereof passes through an are including a round hole 6bin the multi-part form 5. In other words, with this embodiment of myinvention it is not necessary to use elongated holes in the marginalportions of the form since the'pins swing so that the tapered free shankwill pass through the round hole 6b, as shown in Fig. 11 where theprogressive movement of a pin has been illustrated. However, as alsoshown in 'this figure, it should be noted that the leading edge of thefree shank of each pin lb, even though it passes through a round holeOb, does not engage the edges of the contiguous portions'of themulti-parts of the form at the forward side of a hole until the pin hasbeen projected fully outwardly and the leading edge of the free shank isextending radially of the platen.

The variation of the device shown in Fig. 12 is the same as that justdescribed except that the form engaging shank of each pin 80 is taperedfrom all directions so as to be cone shaped but, otherwise, the pins 80andthe co-operation of the knobs I20 and the cam channel I30 in the'plate Me is such that the free shank of the pin will swing outwardlyinto engaging position within the area of a round hole 6c formed in the.marginal portion of the continuous form 5, in the same manner as in theembodiment of Figs. and 11.

In the accompanying drawings, as stated hereinbefore. I have shownseveralembodiments of feeding and aligning devices including myinvention but, of course, I do not intend to limit myself to theembodiments shown herein. The shape of the pins, the method used formotivating them into projected and withdrawn positions, and the size,shape and arrangement of the other parts of the device may be variedwithin wide v ranges without deviating from the spirit of my inventionas bounded by the ambit of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by- Letters Patent, is:

l. A continuous form feeding and aligning unit adapted to be includedinthe platen of a writing machine and comprising a plurality of formengaging pins pivotally mounted on said platen, each of said pins havingaknob extending therefrom at a point removed from said pivot, a plateassociated with said pins and being stationary relchannelformed thereinand arranged to receive said knobs, and said pins and said plate'beingformed and positioned whereby said pins will be projected successivelybeyond the circumference of said platen into form engaging positlon andwill be withdrawn therefrom as-said platen is rotated. i

2. A- continuous form feeding and aligning unit adapted to be includedin the-platen of a writing machine and comprising a plurality of 7 andthe point 70 machine and comprising a plurality of a plate associatedwith said pins and being sta- 5 tionary relative to said platen, saidplate having a cam channel formed therein and arranged to receive saidknobs, and said channel having a portion of smaller radius and a portionof larger radius and being otherwise positioned and formed 10 wherebysaid pins will be projected successively beyond the circumferenceof saidplaten into form engaging position and will be withdrawn therefrom assaid platen is rotated.

3. A continuous form feeding and aligning unit 15 adapted to be includedin the rotatable platen of a writing-machine and comprising a pluralityof form engaging pins pivotally mounted on said platen, each of saidpins having a knob extending therefrom at a point removed from saidpivot, a plate associated withsaid pins and being normally stationaryrelative to the axis of the platen, a cam on said plate to engage saidknobs whereby said pins will be projected successively into formengaging position and will be withdrawn therefrom as said platenisrotated, and adjustable means for moving said plate relative to theaxis of said platen whereby the point on the circumference of saidplaten at which said pins are projected may be varied.

4. A continuous form feeding and aligning unit adapted to be included inthe rotatable platen of a writing machine and comprising a plurality ofform engaging pins pivotally mounted on said platen, each of said pinshaving a knob extending therefrom at a point removed 40 said knobs, saidchannel having a portion of larger radius and a portion of smallerradius and being ot rwise positioned and formed whereby said pin will beprojected successively beyond the circumference of said platen into formen gaging position and will be withdrawn therefrom as said platen isrotated, and adjustable means for moving said plate relative to the axisof 'said platen whereby the portion of larger radius of said channel maybe moved relative thereto on the circumference of said platen at whichsaid pins are projected may be varied.

5. A continuous form feeding and aligning unit adapted to be included inthe rotatable platen of a writing machine and comprising a plurality ofform engaging pins pivotally mounted on said platen, each of said pinsbeing hooked shape and being pivoted near one end a knob extending fromeach pin at a point between said pivoted end and the elbow of said hook,a plate associated with said pins and being normally stationary duringthe rotation'of thev platen, and a cam on said plate to engage saidknobs whereby the free ends of said pins will be projected ative to saidplaten, said platg having cam 63 successively into form engagingposition and will be withdrawn therefrom as said platen is rotated.

6. A continuous form feeding and aligning unit adapted to be included inthe platen of a writing pivotally mounted form engaging pins arranged tobe swung outwardly beyond the circumference of said platen and thenwithdrawn from said projected position as said platen is rotated, eachof said pins being shaped whereby in normal operaprojected fully, andpositively acting motivating means actuated by rotation of said platenfor swinging said pins successively both into and out of said projected,engaging position.

7. A continuous form feeding and aligning unit adapted to be included inthe platen of a writing machine and comprising a plurality of formengaging pins pivotally mounted on said platen, each of said pins beinghooked shape and having the free end thereof formed to swing outwardlytion it does not engage said form until it has been.

beyond the circumference of said platen into projected, form engagingposition and to be withdrawn from said position, each of said pins beingarranged whereby the leading edge thereof will extend radially of saidplaten when said pin is in full projected position, and a single,positively acting motivating means actuated by rotation of said platenfor swinging said pins successi'vely both into and out of saidprojected,

10 engaging position.

ELLSWOR'I'H J. NICHOLS.

